Apparatus for insepction of ampoules

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for inspection of ampoules wherein ampoules to be inspected are positioned in alignment with a plurality of pairs of holders having inwardly tapering portions, into and by which the shoulder or bottom portions of ampoules are inserted and held, and rotated by the holders without there being any shaking or other movement to cause formation of bubbles in the liquid in the ampoules, and any foreign bodies in the ampoules are illuminated by a source of light without there being reflection of light from other ampoules with the result that inspection of ampoules can be carried out accurately, and without misinterpretation, directly by an operator or by a television camera.

[451 May21, 1974 United States Patent n91 Tomita et al.

3,479,5l4 ll/l969 Kidwell.....,. 356/240 X 3,528,544 3,60l,6l6

[ APPARATUS FOR INSEPCTION OF XX 78 99 H 66 55 33 9/l970 Noguchi....... lO/l97l AMPOULES Katsumata,...... Vandenberg.................

209/lll.7X

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Schacher Takeda Chemical Industries, l nc., Osaka, Japan [73] Assignee; Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wenderoth, Lind & Ponack [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for inspection of ampoules wherein am- [22] Filed: Dec. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 315,827

poules to be inspected are positioned in alignment with a plurality of pairs of holders having inwardly tapering portions, into and by which the shoulder or bottom portions of ampoules are inserted and held, and rotated by the holders without there being any shaking or other movement to cause formation of bubbles in the liquid in the ampoules, and any foreign bodies in the ampoules are illuminated by a source of light without there being reflection of light from other ampoules with the result that inspection of ampoules can be carried out accurately, and without misinterdirectly by an operator or by a television n .m t Ya I e r p 7 .s 9 3 9 113 1 4 1 0 654 1.. 6 9 6 37 4 0 m L HW a n 1 S D m m. W m 60 mm w ml E m m 2 B dT N 9 H A P m 3 5 .lP. HU C n u 9 "2 S 0 n 0 C I] I u I t n 2 .u CT 3 a u "A c D- n e fi a "mu HT W In a A1 in Rm 7 m3 m n M L 1 W 2 C F d Std e D Umh l. 1]] .l. 0 2 00 6 3 555 5 rL ill. .I.

camera.

2,635,194 4/1953 Kellogg............................... 356/197 3,029,349 4/1962 Schell 356/197 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHEET 3 BF 5 PATENTEDMAY 21 m PATENTED MAY 2 1 I374 SHEET k [If 5 FIG. 4

PATENTEnmm I974 3,91 1 .5567

sum 5 OF 5 FIG. 5

FIG. 6

APPARATUS FOR INSEPCTION OF AMPOULES The present invention relates to an apparatus for the inspection of ampoules, phials or similar containers and more particularly to an inspection apparatus wherein ampoules, phials or similar containers to be inspected are illuminated while the liquid within them is rotated, whereby the presence of glass fragments or other foreign bodies within the ampoules is easily detected.

There is sometimes unintentional inclusion of glass fragments or other foreign bodies in ampoules, phials or similar containers, etc., (hereinbelow referred to generically as ampoules), which must therefore be checked for the presence of such foreign bodies. In conventional devices this inspection is generally carried out on ampoules being transported on a conveyor, either directly by an operator or by a television camera, 'etc.; however, with such conventional apparatus it is difficult to determine accurately the presence of forfloat to the top of the liquid in the ampoules being inspected, in which position they remain, since during conveyor .belt transport they are static relative to the ampoules.

To overcome this defect in conventional inspection apparatus the inventors devised means whereby the liquid in ampoules could be moved by rotation and illuminated in order to make detection of foreign bodies in the ampoules easy due to reflection of light by such foreign bodies. During their research many problems were met with, the most important of which was that a minimum speed of rotation of ampoules is required in order to move any foreign bodies that might be present in the liquid therein, and high-speed rotation can also give rise to air bubbles in the liquid which could reflect light and be misinterpreted as being foreign bodies. Also, when ampoules are examined by a lamp this manner there is a risk of reflection of light on to the wall of an ampoule being examined from an adjacent ampoule, or next-adjacent ampoule, and this reflected light can be misinterpreted as representing foreign bodies; reflected light from a next adjacent ampoule is especially likely to cause confusion: this is apparently since the intervening ampoule, immediately next to the ampoule being examined, acts just like a lens.

in addition, known means for the continuous takeup, one at a time, of ampoules to be inspected standing in any order, have been formed by guide boards the distance between which, for a certain stretch, is narrowed so that ampoules movebetween them in single line on a belt conveyor, or similar transport means. However, such conventional apparatus has the disadvantage that smooth, continuous operation is not usually obtainable in practice, the reasonbeingthat there is .a strong tendency for ampoules, due to friction between them caused by fine striations or unevenness of their surfaces, to block one another at the entrance to the narrow portion of the guides. Another disadvantage, consequent on this jamming, is that a gap is formed in the line of ampoules transported in the narrow portion of the guides, and ampoules fall and smash and stop the progress of other ampoules, which again renders impossible take-up of one ampoule at a'time in a smooth, continuous operation.

Also, known means for the continuous removal of inspected ampoules separated into two ormore groups comprise flap-gates. which effectively act as guides to a flow of ampoules or push-rods or similar means, for forcibly directing ampoules along another path, provided at a point where it is wished to separate ampoules into separate groups. However, such conventional devices have the disadvantages that when ampoules are separated they are subject to shock due to impact with the flap-gates, push-rods, etc., and therefore easily damaged, or that the apparatus is of low efficiency mechanically due to the fact that considerable displacement of flap-gates or push-rods, etc., is required 'for them to fulfil the function of separating ampoules.

To overcome the disadvantages inherent in conventional apparatus associated with ampoules, phials and similar containers, the present invention has as an object the provision of an apparatus whereby ampoules being inspected are carried close to one another in a single line, and, during inspection, the liquid contained in the ampoules is rotated at high speed without giving rise to air bubbles and reflects light without causing interference illumination between ampoules so 'as to make it possible to detect bodies that may be present in the liquid, the apparatus thus making possible accurate, correct and efficient inspection of ampoules; and

poules into two or more groups are made practically possible. Accordingly, an essential object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable. holders which are carried around a fixed circular path, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holdereach aligned with the other and having an opening that tapers inwards, the upper one of which holders can be consecutively lowered to a definite position and then raised, and both or at least one of which can be rotated at high speed during-a set portion of their revolution, each ampoule to be inspected being held at its shoulder and bottom in the tapered portions of a pair of holders, with which it revolves, and being illuminated by a source of light at a fixed point in this revolution.

With this arrangement,-when the upper holders are lowered to a set position ampoules are held with their shoulder and bottom portions inserted in the tapered portions for that purpose in the freely rotatable hold- 1 ers, in which position they can be rotated at high speed without air bubbles being fonned in the liquid contained in them, since no up and down movement is permitted, and, unlike conventional devices wherein ampoules areheld at the top and bottom, the central points between their shoulders and bottoms lie perfectly self-adjusted along one line, and, the ampoule shoulder and bottom portions being fitted into tapering portions in the holders, the ampoules are automatically centered with respect to the holders, and when the holders are rotated the ampoules are rotated about a vertical axis without there beinganything to cause shaking or bubbles forming in the liquid in the ampoules. I

Ampoules that havethus been rotated at high speed, without formation of bubbles, are carried past a source of light at a fixed point, where any glass fragments or other foreign bodies in the ampoules are illuminated while rotating, and since they reflect-the light, can be detected directly by an operator, or by a television camera, etc., the present invention thus making possible an accurate inspection of ampoules without there being any risk of formation of air bubbles which could be misinterpreted as being glass fragments or other foreign bodies.

Further, a plurality of pairs of holders as described above are provided, each pair being-carried, in order, around a set circular path, during a set portion of which one or both holders is rotated at a requisite speed; at a stage before this rotation the upper holder is raised by a fixed guide cam or other suitable means, widening the space between the two holders, an ampoule is automatically placed between the holders by a rotary table or a star wheel conveyor or other suitable means, and the upper holder is lowered, the holders thus securing the ampoule, which is then carried past the inspection point, after which the upper holder is raised again, thus releasing the ampoule which is then removed from the system by a means similar to that used for supplying it. Hence, in the present invention, supply and removal of ampoules being automatic, inspection efficiency is improved and economy obtained.

In order to improve accuracy in determining whether or not glass fragments or other foreign bodies are present in ampoules, the inspection apparatus of the present invention further'provides means for braking highspeed rotation of holders almost immediately after it has been imparted, by which action movement of foreign bodies relative to the ampoules is made even greater.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus which further includes shading boards which move together with it and are placed between one ampoule to be inspected and the next.

Therefore, ampoules are carried, by the rotatory table, in a line past a lamp which illuminates them successively; any glass fragments or other foreign bodies present in an ampoule being inspected reflect light and can therefore be detected, either directly by an operator, or by a television camera, and the interposition of a Sheding board between one ampoule and the next ensures that there is no reflection of light, that could be misinterpreted as being'due to foreign bodies, from adjacent ampoules into an ampoule being inspected. Hence, the present invention offers the advantage that'ampoules can be carried very close to one another and inspection is accurate and very efficient.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus which further comprises a belt conveyor and a rotary unit the peripheral surface of which is vertical, and which rotates in the opposite direction to the belt conveyor, positioned near one side of one end of the belt, and a star wheel conveyor which is in contact with the same end of the belt and rotates from the side of the belt opposite to the abovementioned rotary unit is to the side where the rotary unit is.

With this arrangement, ampoules to be inspected standing in any order on the belt conveyor are transported thereby to the star wheel conveyor, 'by which they are taken up therefrom. At this take-up stage there is a tendency for ampoules to pile up, since there is a difference-in the number delivered by the belt and the number taken up in the notched, holding portions of the star wheel conveyor, which means there are always ampoules at this point.

Therefore, a rotary unit, rotating in the opposite direction to the belt, is positioned near one side of the belt at this end, i.e., above one side of the belt at the end where it comes into-contact with the star wheel conveyor, and, hence, ampoules in the region between this rotary unit and the star wheel conveyor are carried by a belt conveyor to a star wheel conveyor, in the notch portions of which they are taken up, but without any jamming at the take-up stage, at which, however, there is always a constant supply, and ampoules can be fed constantly, one at a time, in a smooth, continuous operation. Also, because ampules are being transferred from a belt conveyor to a star wheel conveyor, they can be supplied to a desired location without change of position.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an inspection apparatus which further comprises a star wheel conveyor for transport of inspected ampoules in a line and a delivery guide in contact with the line for removal of ampoules at a main delivery point, and prior to this point a take-off assembly which ispositioned near the line and for removal of ampoules to another system, and opposite which is positioned a compressed air ejector nozzle which ejects compressed air at determined times. I

' With this arrangement, when the compressed 'air ejector is not operative, ampoules carried on the star wheel conveyor are simply taken to the main delivery point where, directed by the delivery guide, they are removed from the-star wheel conveyor line. However,

any ampoule carried by the star wheel conveyor that comes into line'with the ejector nozzle at the time the latter is functioning is directed by compressed air from the nozzle to the take-off assembly, by which it is removed from the system. The manner of control of the compressed air ejector is by a known means, for example, comprising a switching valve, that periodically opens or closes, inserted in the compressed air ejectors air supply circuit and a solenoid valve controlled by signals emitted at a previous stage of inspection operations during transport of ampoules on the star wheel conveyor.

Hence, the present invention has the advantage that it makes possible the alternate removal of inspected ampoules from a star wheel conveyor first to one system and then to another, and, unlike'when use is made of flap-gates, push rods, etc., this is achieved as a continuous operation without there being any risk of damage to ampoules due to mechanical shock..ln addition, the take-off assembly consists of rubber rollers, so that even if ampoules are subjected to a strong blast of compressed air they do not risk being damaged. The rollers can be a pair of counter-rotary rollers, but it is also possible to have one of the rollers in direct contact with a guide board.

These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description taken in conjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich;

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an apparatus for inspection of ampoules embodying the present invention, and portions thereof being broken away for the purpose of illustration of various component parts disposed thereunder,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line Ill III In FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a schematic developed view on an enlarged scale of a guide cam employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view on an enlaged scale of shading boards employed in the apparatus of FIG. 1.

Before the description of the present invention proceeds, it is to be noted that like parts are designated by the like reference numerals throughout the several views of the accompanying drawings.

Ampoules A are placed standing, but not necessarily in any order, on a belt conveyor 10 the upper side of which is preferably inclined slightly downward in the direction of its travel, a suitable inclination being, generally, about 4 or less, and has by either side fixed guide boards 11 and 12 which are gently bent towards one another at a delivery end where the belt conveyor 10 meets a star wheel conveyor 13. Feed of standing ampoules A onto the belt conveyor 10 is conveniently by advancing them thereto by any suitable means from a feed-tray (not shown), on which they have been placed standing, in contact with one end of the belt conveyor 10.

At one end of the guide board 12 there is provided an endless belt pile-up breaker 14 the vertical board surface of which rotates in the oposite direction to the belt conveyor 10 and which is positioned close to, above and at one side of the delivery end of the belt conveyor 10 in an alignment that is substantially in a line with the end portion of the guide board 12 and is approximately symmetrical with an inwardly sloping portion 11a of the other guide board 11. Ampoules A carried on the belt conveyor 10 under guidance of the guide boards 11 and 12 are arranged smoothly without any jamming and piling by the endless belt pile-up breaker l4 and are fed constantly into carrying notches 13a of the star wheel conveyor 13 which take off the ampoules A one by one by rotation thereof. Ampoules A are slowly revolved en masse by operation of the star wheel conveyor 13 and the breaker 14, clockwise in FIG. 2, and, individually, are taken one at a time into the notch portions 13a of the star wheel conveyor 13, and take-off is in a smooth, continuous operation.

The star wheel conveyor 13 is formed like a disc having one end placed above the delivery end of the belt conveyor 10, and rotates around its axis 13b from the side of the long guide board 11 towards the side of the breaker 14, and below which is disposed an underboard l5, and by the periphery of which, over the stretch where it carries ampoules A, is disposed a guide board 16.

At the side of the star wheel conveyor 13 opposite to the conveyor 10 there is provided a rotary conveyor 17 comprising a pair of positively rotating discs 18 and 19 rotatably mounted with an interval between them on a shaft 20 provided perpendicularly on a base 21 and having disposed on their peripheries a plurality of holders 22 and 23, respectively, upper holders 22 being held by journals 24 on support rods 25 held by the upper disc 18 while lower holders 23 are held by journals 26 in the lower disc 19. The holders 22 and 23 are disposed at regular intervals around their respective discs 18 and 19 and opposite one another to form pairs,

and have openings 22a and 230 at their ends which taper inwards and receive the shoulder and bottom portions, respectively of ampoules A. Both holders 22 and 23 are free to rotate about their axes in the respective journals 24 and 26 and the upper holders 22 of cap-like type are slidingly suspended by the support rods 25 and are always pressed downwards by compression springs 27 provided between the shoulder portion 22b of the upper holder 22 and the journal 24, and the lower holders 23 of cylinder-like type are supported within the lower disc 19. The support rods 25 are inserted into journals 28 in the upper disc 18 so as to be free to slide up and down and to rotate around their axes and are provided at their lower end with cylinder cases 29 accommodated the journals 24 therein and at their upper end they project beyond the journal 28 of the upper disc 18 and have rollers 30 mounted thereon. The shaft 20 on which the rotary conveyor 17 is rotatably mounted on journals 17a is fixedly supported by a bearing 31 fixed on the base 21 and has fixedly mounted thereon above the rotary conveyor 17 a cam holder 32 having a pair of guide earns 33 and 34 on which rollers 21 and 28 are riding.

The rotary conveyor 17, the pair of discs 18 and 19 and the star wheelconveyor 13 are rotated synchronously by anyknown gear mechanism G, to G and a motor M, at such speeds that the speed of travel between one pair of holders 22 and 23 on the discs 18 and 19 andthe next, and between one-carrying notch on the star wheel conveyor 13 and the next, is the same, successive notches 13a meeting successive pairs of holders 22 and 23. At a suitable distance before each pair of holders 22 and 23 meets a notch 13a, at which time the holders 22 and 23 and notch 13a all lie on one line, the space between the openings 22a and 23a of the holders 22, 23 is widened by the upper holder 22 being raised by the roller 30 attached to the support rod 25 from which the upper holder 22 is suspended riding on a top-cam portion 33a of the guide cam 33 which is higher over a certain stretch than a bottom-cam portion 33b of the guide cam 33, as shown in FIG. 5, the end of the top-cam portion 33a being gradually lowered to the same level as the bottom-cam portion 33b.

After the roller 30 has passed the top-cam portion 33a, at which time the space between the holders 22 and 23 is widened so that an ampoule A can be inserted under guidance of the guide board 16 onto the lower holder 23, it moves downwards to lower level of its end 33a and the space between the holders 22 and 23 is reduced so that the ampoule A inserted onto the lower holder 23 is held correctly aligned between the upper and lower holders 22 and 23 with its shoulder A, and bottom A inserted in the holder taper portions 22a and 23a, respectively. To avoid damage to an ampoule A when it is thus held or shaking of the liquid it contains, it is preferable for this lowering of the upper holder 22 to be carried out in two stages, which can be a first stage where the holder 22 is lowered to about] mm from the shoulder portion A, of the ampoule A and a second stage where it is lowered completely.

When the roller 30 is shifted from the top-cam portion 330 to the bottom-cam portion 33b and has passed the bottom-cam portion 33b, the support rod 25 is raised up only by the compression spring 27 provided between the journal 24 and the shoulder portion 22b of the upper holder 22 the tapered opening 22a of which is engaged with the shoulder portion A of the ampoule A so that the roller 30 can contact the bottom-cam portion 33!; from below. Also, the support rod 25 is free to slide and to rotate so as to easily engage the tapered opening 22a of the upper holder 22 with the shoulder portion A of the ampoule A the bottom of which portion A is received within the tapered portion 23a of the lower holder 23, so that the ampoule A is held between two holders 22 and 23 in self-alignment with the axes of the two holders 22 and-23, and is capable of rotating together with the two holders 22 and 23.

As the discs 18 and.19 of the rotary conveyor 17 rotate in the clockwise direction as shown i'n'FlGl 2 by the gear mechanism G to G and motor M, ampoules A held between the holders 22 and 23 are carried around a circular path, on part of which is provided a drive belt 35 which contacts the outer peripheries of the lower holders 23, and as each ampoule A held in a pair of tapered portions 22a and 23a of the holders 22 and 23 passes the location of the drive belt 35 driven by any conventional means C it is rotated with the upper holder 22 by the lower holder 23'being rotated about its axis at high speed through contact between its outer periphery with the drive belt 35. Although rotation of the ampoule A by the drive belt 35 is braked at a point slightly beyond the drive belt 35 by contact of the lower holder 23 with a friction belt 36 fixed near to the drive belt 35, due to inertia of the ampoule A, the liquid in the ampoule A continues to'move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein.

Beneath the line of travel of the lower holder 23, at a point on the circular path of the ampoule A immediately after the spot where the braking operation of the friction belt 36 is carried out, there is provided a lamp 37 with a hood 38, light from which passes through a cylindrical central portion of the lower holder 23 and illuminates the ampoule A held within the upper opening 23a of the lower holder 23, at which stage glass fragments or other foreign bodies in the liquid of the ampoule A are easily detected, either directly by an operator, or by a television camera T through a hood 39, if present in the liquid of the ampoule A, since they are still moving, as described above, and reflect the light from the lamp 37.

Thus, ampoules A, and the liquid therein, are positioned in alignment with upper and lower holders 22 and 23 and rotated, without moving from this alignment, and without there being any shaking or other movementto cause formation of bubbles in the liquid in the ampoules A, and any foreign bodies in the ampoule A are illuminated and reflect light while moving, with the result that inspection of the ampoules A can be carried out accurately, and without misinterpretation, directly by an operator or by the television camera T.

The rotary conveyor 17 also comprises shading boards 40 of U-shape which areattached to holding rods 41 and so disposed that there is one shading board 40 between each ampoule A to be examined and the next two ampoules in either direction therefrom. The holding rods 41 are slidingly mounted in journals 42 in the upper disc 18 which are positioned inwardly of and correspond to the journals 28 for the support rods 25 and are provided at their ends beyond the journals 42 with rollers 43 in pressure contact with the fixed lower guide cam 34 of the cam holder 32 by spring 44 prostage where ampoules A to be examined are supplied to the discs, and then lowered. Provision of shading boards 40 between each pair of holders 22 and 23 ensures cut-off of light from objects external to ampoules A being examined which could be reflected by the ampoules A themselves or by the liquid within them and be misinterpreted as being foreign bodies.

A succession of ampoules A, each held between a pair of holders 22 and 23, is transported and examined, after which the ampoules A can be examined again in the same manner and then carried to a second star wheel conveyor 45, or carried to the star wheel conveyor 45 without a second examination.

The portion of the fixed guide cam 33 above where I ampoules A meet the star wheel conveyor 45 is raised, so that at this location rollers 30, support rods 25 and, hence, upper holders 22 are raised together, therefore, when an ampoule A reaches the star wheel conveyor 45, the space between the holders 22 and 23 holding it is widened, the ampoule A is released from the holders 22 underguidance of a guide rail 46 and transferred to and removed from the rotary conveyor 17 by the star wheel conveyor 45. Also, the other fixed guide cam 43 raises the shading boards 40 at the location where examined ampoules A are removed, so as to follow the corresponding'upper holder 22.

The star wheel conveyor 45 rotates synchronously with the discs 18 and 19 around its axis 451) and is provided with notches 45a at its periphery spaced a certain interval between each other for transport of ampoules A. In addition, there is provided the underboard 15 beneath the star wheel conveyor 45, a guide rail 46 at the portion of the periphery of the star wheel conveyor 45 and a delivery guide 46a composed of a pair of fixed guide boards facing one another at a position near the periphery of the star wheel conveyor 45, by which examined ampoules held in notches 45a of the star wheel conveyor 45 are guided as they are taken out of the star wheel conveyor 45. Also, at the position near the pe- 'riphery of the star wheel conveyor 45 at a point before the location of the delivery guide 460', there is provided an ampoule take-off assembly 47 comprising a compressed air ejector nozzle 48 having a solenoid valve 49 controlled automatically by the electric signals generated by a control box B connected with the television camera T scanning ampoules A for detecting foreign bodies in the ampoules in the rotatory conveyor 17, and a pair of rubber rollers 50 and 51 with a fixed board delivery guide 52 for receiving an ampoule A from the star wheel conveyor 45 by compressed air blown by the ejector nozzle and transporting the ampoule to the guide, one roller 50 being driven by motor Ampoules A transferred from the rotary conveyor 17 to the star wheel conveyor 45 are directed by the latters rotation to the delivery guide 46. If, when ampoules A come in line with the compressed air ejector nozzle 48 and the latters solenoid valve 49 receives no operating signals from the television camera T, the ampoules A pass to the delivery guide 46, via which they are removed from the star wheel conveyor 45, such ampoules A being suitably, ampoules A which have been passed as good in an inspection, for example. On the contrary, when the compressed air ejector nozzles solenoid valve 49 receives an operating signal, an ampoule A in line with the nozzle 48 has compressed air blown on it, either directly from the nozzle 48 or through a passage provided in the star wheel conveyor 45, and is directed to the rollers 50 and 51, by which it is removed to the guide 52, such ampoules A being, for example, ampoules A" classed as rejects in an inspection of the television camera T which detects the presence or otherwise of foreign bodies in ampoules A.

If the division of ampoules A is into passed ampoules A and rejected ampoules A", the latter A" can be simply disposed of in a waste box 53, etc., or if it is required to recover ampoules removed from the star wheel conveyor 45 via the take out assembly, this is easily done by the provision of a pair of guide boards or any other suitable guide leading from the take out assembly.

Although the present invention has been fully described in conjunction with the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be noted that various change and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the present invention also covers operations where ampoules from the star wheel conveyor 1 are separated into different batches of determined sizes; in this case it is merely necessary to adjust the operation, non-operation changeover to set times.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder,

transportation means on which the holders are mounted with the upper and lower holders in alignment and in succession around a set, regular path past an inspection point, guide means on said transportation means for moving the upper holder up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass frag- ,ments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.

2. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules as claimed in claim 1 further comprising shading means provided between each pair of the ampoules carried by the transportation means for ensuring cut-off of light from objects external to ampoules being inspected.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a take-up assembly for supplying ampoules one at a time to said holders, said assembly being positioned adjacent said transportation means, said take-up assembly comprising a substantially horizontal belt con veyor on which ampoules are placed in a standing position with the bottoms on the conveyor belt, a star wheel unit at the end of the belt conveyor for taking ampoules one at a time off the end of the belt, guide walls at the end of the belt directed diagonally of the belt and toward the star wheel unit for guiding ampoules toward the star wheel unit, and a rotary unit between the end of one of the guide walls and the star wheel unit and having a portion just above and close to the belt and moving in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the belt conveyor for preventing bridging of the ampoules being fed to the star wheel unit.

4. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder, transportation means including an upper and a lower disc and a shaft on which the discs are mounted, the upper disc having a plurality of support rods freely slidably mounted thereon for sliding movement up and down and at regular intevals around said upper disc, the upper holders being rotatably mounted on said support rods, rollers at the upper ends of said support rods, and the lower disc having the lower holders rotatably disposed on the periphery thereof at positions corresponding to the upper holders on the upper disc, means coupled to said transportation means for rotating the discs in one direction around the shaft past an inspection point, guide means acting on said rollers for moving the upper holders up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.

5. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules as claimed in claim 4 further comprising shading means interposed between each pair of ampoules and movable with the transportation means for ensuring cut-off of light from objects external to ampoules being inspected. 

1. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder, transportation means on which the holders are mounted with the upper and lower holders in alignment and in succession around a set, regular path past an inspection point, guide means on said transportation means for moving the upper holder up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.
 2. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules as claimed in claim 1 further comprising shading means provided between each pair of the ampoules carried by the transportation means for ensuring cut-off of light from objects external to ampoules being inspected.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a take-up assembly for supplying ampoules one at a time to said holders, said assembly being positioned adjacent said transportation means, said take-up assembly comprising a substantially horizontal belt conveyor on which ampoules are placed in a standing position with the bottoms on the conveyor belt, a star wheel unit at the end of the belt conveyor for taking ampoules one at a time off the end of the belt, guide walls at the end of the belt directed diagonally of the belt and toward the star wheel unit for guiding ampoules toward the star wheel unit, and a rotary unit between the end of one of the guide walls and the star wheel unit and having a portion just above and close to the belt and moving in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the belt conveyor for preventing bridging of the ampoules being fed to the star wheel unit.
 4. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules each having a bottom, a shoulder at the upper end, and a tip projecting upwardly from the shoulder, said apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of freely rotatable holders, each pair consisting of an upper and a lower holder each aligned with the other, and having inwardly tapering portions into and by which the shoulder and bottom of an ampoule are inserted and held, said upper holder having a recess therein into which the tip of the ampoule fits without being engaged by said upper holder, transportation means including an upper and a lower disc and a shaft on which the discs are mounted, the upper disc having a plurality of support rods freely slidably mounted thereon for sliding movement up and down and at regular intevals around said upper disc, the upper holders being rotatably mounted on said support rods, rollers at the upper ends of said support rods, and the lower disc having the lower holders rotatably disposed on the periphery thereof at positions corresponding to the upper holders on the upper disc, means coupled to said transportation means for rotating the discs in one direction around the shaft past an inspection point, guide means acting on said rollers for moving the upper holders up and down in such a manner that at a first stage of the transportation means the upper holder is raised to increase the space between the two holders for permitting an ampoule to be placed between the holders, at a next stage the upper holder is lowered for securing the ampoule between the holders in which condition the ampoule is carried past the inspection point, and at a last stage the upper holder is raised again so that the ampoule can be removed from the holders, driving means operatively associated with at least one of said holders for rotating the holders and the ampoules secured between the holders about their axis so that the liquid in the ampoules continues to move, as do also any glass fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein, at the inspection point, and a source of light at the inspection point for illuminating the ampoules at the inspection point so as to detect any fragments or other foreign bodies that may be contained therein as the ampoules move past the inspection point.
 5. An apparatus for inspection of ampoules as claimed in claim 4 further comprising shading means interposed between each pair of ampoules and movable with the transportation means for ensuring cut-off of light from objects external to ampoules being inspected. 